Borrowers urged to avoid costly fixed home loan revert rate trap

There’s been a substantial home loan rate shift in 2020 as interest rates have continued to fall and fixed home loans have emerged as the new low rate option for borrowers.

Mozo database figures show that, on average, fixed home loan rates are now significantly lower than variable rates, with the average 2-year fixed rate (2.35%) for an owner-occupier nearly 100 basis points lower than the average variable rate (3.31%).

In fact, following the latest Reserve Bank rate cut, many lenders have cut their fixed headline rates below the 2.00% mark for the first time.

While these low fixed offers will no doubt be welcomed by any borrowers who are happy to lock in a rate for the next few years, mortgage holders are being warned to watch out for the devil in the detail: revert rates. 

What is a revert rate? It’s the variable rate borrowers are charged once the fixed rate period ends and, importantly, it tends to be a much higher rate.

And according to a recent Mozo analysis, the difference between fixed rates and revert rates can be substantial. Of the 2-year fixed rate loans being tracked in the Mozo database, the average revert rate was 3.49% and rates ranged as high as 5.10%.

“It’s clear lenders lure customers in with rock bottom fixed rates knowing they will make a bonanza in a couple of years time as most people won't bother to switch,” says Mozo Director, Kirsty Lamont.

“While low fixed rate offers might seem intoxicating, not many customers would be prepared for the fact they could be slugged with rates up to 5.10% when the fixed period ends.”

2-year fixed rate loans with the lowest total interest over 30 years^

As the table above shows though, not all lenders charge revert rates which are significantly higher than the fixed rate.

But given that another analysis found that just 6% of mortgage holders had refinanced in the 12 months to June 2020, it’s likely that many Australians who do take up a fixed rate offer will be caught out in years to come when higher revert rates kick in.

As Lamont says, that inertia could end up costing borrowers a significant amount.

“The message is clear, if you don’t switch your loan when the fixed period ends you’re on a collision course with the revert rate ripoff. Failing to refinance your loan at the end of the fixed period could see your monthly repayments jump from $1,568 to $2,010 adding more than $88,997 over the life of the loan.”

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Ready to compare a range of competitive fixed rate home loan offers? Check out the rates in the table below or head on over to the Mozo home loan comparison hub to compare more options for both owner occupiers and investors.

^Based on home loan products in the Mozo database available to owner-occupiers making principal and interest repayments on a loan of $400,000 loan with an LVR of 80% - accurate as of Nov 20, 2020. Assumes variable revert rate remains consistent over 30 years.